R&D Technician

MORSECORP, Inc.; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 34,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

MORSE Corp in Cambridge, MA is seeking an experienced R&D Technician to fabricate, assemble, and test airframes and components for unmanned aerial systems. You will work closely with engineers to design, build, and fly UAS, with onsite work and potential travel for flight tests.

This role requires expertise in fiberglass fabrication, adhesives, finishing, and tooling, plus strong documentation and communication. Onsite work in Cambridge, with occasional travel, is expected.

Qualifications

• Expertise fabricating and modifying fiberglass assemblies with cutting/trimming, adhesive bonding, and fastening.
• Expertise with adhesive systems for surface prep and joining various materials.
• Expertise finishing assemblies with hand sanding and painting.
• Experience developing manufacturing aids (jigs, fixtures) for fitment and repeatable results.
• Experience with hand tools including rotary cutting/sanding, drills, taps, torque wrenches, power tools, and air tools.
• Strong written and verbal communication; documenting fabrication/assembly processes.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lb.
• Model radio-controlled aircraft fabrication experience is a plus.
• SolidWorks and 3D printing exposure is beneficial.
• Experience with composites (wet layup or prepreg) and wiring harnesses.
• GD&T interpretation and electrical test equipment familiarity.
• Ambition to grow responsibilities through mentorship.

Responsibilities

• Modify COTS airframes to incorporate custom avionics and payloads.
• Fabricate, assemble, install, repair, replace, adjust, and align parts across materials.
• Document first article fabrication and maintenance activities.
• Conduct functional tests and checks to verify system performance.
• Refine processes for throughput and quality.
• Communicate needs, status, and issues with engineering and facilities.
• Collaborate on technical solutions within cost and time constraints.

Skills

Fiberglass fabrication and testing

Adhesive systems and joining

Finishing and painting

Manufacturing aids development

Hand and power tools

Documentation and communication

Heavy lifting up to 50 lb

Aircraft/UAS fabrication (desirable)

3D modeling experience (desirable)

Composites materials (desirable)

GD&T reading (desirable)

Wiring harnesses and soldering (des)

Electrical test equipment familiarity

Tools

SolidWorks

3D printing

GD&T

Oscilloscope

Multimeter

Job description

MORSE Corp is an employee owned, small business based in Cambridge, MA, Arlington, VA, and Seattle, WA with a history of fielding cutting-edge technology. MORSE boasts a specially selected team of scientists, engineers, and software developers to deliver best-in-class technical solutions that solve difficult multidisciplinary problems faced by the US National Security Ecosystem.

We are seeking a skilled R&D Technician to join our team, responsible for performing fabrication, and assembly, and of airframes and components for unmanned aerial systems (UAS). In this role, you will work collaboratively with engineers and technicians to design, build, test, and fly UAS systems. This role is fully onsite and may require travel to support flight testing.

Responsibilities

• Perform modifications to a COTS airframe to incorporate custom avionics and payloads

• Perform fabrication, assembly, installation, repair, replacement, adjustment, and alignment of metallic, wood, plastic, and composite parts and components

• Document first article fabrication and maintenance activities, including inspections, repairs, and component replacements

• Conduct functional tests and operational checks following assembly or repair to verify proper system functionality and performance

• Refine existing processes for better throughput and improved quality

• Communicate with engineering and facilities staff in writing and verbally to convey needs, status, and issues

• Collaborate with technicians, engineers, and management on appropriate technical solution while conforming to cost and time constraints

Requirements

• Expertise fabricating and modifying fiberglass assemblies to include cutting/trimming, adhesive bonding, and fastening (demonstrated experience on automobiles or watercraft is a plus)

• Expertise with adhesive systems, to include surface preparation, and joining plastic, wood, composite, and metallic components

• Expertise finishing assemblies to include hand sanding and painting

• Experience developing manufacturing aids (jigs, fixtures) to ensure fitment and repeatable results

• Experience with hand tools including rotary cutting/sanding, drills, taps, torque wrenches, power tools, and air tools

• Strong written and verbal communicator and demonstrated experience pioneering fabrication/assembly on the fly and documenting processes

• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lb

Additional Desired Skills

• Model radio-controlled aircraft fabrication and hobby flying experience

• Experience with 3D modeling in SolidWorks

• Exposure to 3D additive manufacturing technology

• Experience working with composites, either wet layup or prepreg materials

• Machinist and welding skills with ability to interpret engineering drawings with geometric distancing and tolerancing (GD&T)

• Experience building wire harnesses (stripping, crimping, and bundling) and experience soldering

• Experience with electrical debug & fault isolation using basic electrical test equipment (oscilloscopes, multimeters, isolation testers)

• Ambition to be mentored by colleagues to acquire additional skills and garner more responsibility of the full system fabrication

MORSE Corp’s pay range for this role carefully considers a wide range of compensation factors, including but not limited to, prior experience, education, skills and expertise, location, internal equity, and other factors that are job related and consistent with business need. Therefore, final offer amounts may vary from the amount stated.

Compensation: $25 USD - $35 USD

The team at MORSE takes pride in being the smart team that is easy to work with. We focus on steady, long-term success with an emphasis on exceptionalism and delivering mission-critical impact to our customers. For more information, please visit www.morsecorp.com.